| Thursday, November 30, 2023
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Dear #RPSStrong Family,
Tonight's updates:
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Dreams4RPS – The 8th District Dreams4RPS community meeting originally scheduled for this evening has been postponed. Please visit our website for a calendar of upcoming community meetings.
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Coach Leroy Bo Jones Gymnasium – Last night, we officially named the Huguenot HS gym for the Coach Leroy Bo Jones, Sr. I want to extend my sincere gratitude to the Jones family, to School Board Chair Rizzi and Board Member Young, to Principal Massa, and to everyone else who came out to celebrate Coach Jones. He truly exemplified what it means to #LeadWithLove!
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2024-25 School Applications – The deadline to submit specialty and Governor’s School applications for the 2024-25 school year is TOMORROW, December 1, at 4:30 pm. If you're interested in applying for open enrollment or the Governor's STEM Academy for CTE at RTC, you have until February 1, 2024, at 4 :30 pm to submit applications.
A few important notes:
- We unfortunately cannot accept late applications for ANY reason. Please plan accordingly.
- As long as your application is submitted before the deadline, the timing of your submission will have no impact on the outcome.
- If you have additional questions, please email us at enrollrps@rvaschools.net.
- If you haven't already done so, please review the recently developed list of FAQs regarding changes to the admissions process for Richmond Community HS, Open HS, and Maggie L. Walker Governor's School.
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Farm-to-Table Monthly Market – Our next market will be held tomorrow, December 1, from 2:30 - 4:30 pm at Carver ES. All RPS families are encouraged to stop by and pick up a free basket of fresh produce to enjoy at home! If you can't make it this week, don't worry! We'll be at Woodville ES on Friday, December 15, from 2:30 - 4:30 pm. Hope you can make it!
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Athletics and Event Security Protocols – As we kick off the winter sports season, please be sure to familiarize yourself with our updated security protocols for all athletic games and other events. Thank you for your support!
- All game tickets must be purchased in advance through GoFan. There will be no ticket sales at the event.
- No re-entry will be permitted.
- No bags of any kind will be permitted into stadiums and/or gyms. A clear, gallon-sized bag may be used for personal care items for infants. RPS will not provide these bags; they must be brought by the attendee.
- Everyone – including spectators, band members, cheerleaders, and players from the opposing team – will be subject to search and security screening.
- No outside food or drinks will be permitted, including water bottles.
- Spectators must remain in their seats and cannot congregate along fences or in other areas.
- Spectators must exit the premises immediately following the conclusion of the game/event.
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Keys to College Summit – Partnership for the Future is excited to present the “Keys to College Summit” on Saturday, December 9 from 9:30 am - 1 pm at the VCU School of Business (301 W. Main St). The summit will cover everything from preparing for college to completing the FAFSA. Registration is free and open to the first 200 students and families. For questions, please email Reshaud Rich, senior director of programs.
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With great appreciation,
Jason
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| Shout-Outs – Please help us continue to inspire and uplift the RPS community by submitting shout-outs to shoutouts@rvaschools.net. Entries can be submitted in Spanish or English!
- I want to give a huge shout-out to Mr. Earl Thompson, family liaison at Franklin Military Academy. He goes above and beyond for our school. He ensures that we are seen and taken care of in every way possible. Thank you for your contribution to our food drive and delivery for Thanksgiving.
- Mrs. Burgess has been an amazing math coach at Lois Harrison-Jones ES! All school year she has modeled what it means to teach with love and lead with love. Each day she puts students' learning first. She models great math instruction, supports administration, and analyzes data. These things help give our teachers the information needed to provide the best possible instruction for our students! Thank you, Mrs. Burgess!
- I just wanted to give a shout-out to our math coach here at Francis, Ms. McKay. She is consistently helpful and adds such an amazing spirit to the building! Ms. McKay always ensures that we have the necessary tools in order to reach each child -- whether that is manipulatives or a bit more guidance with station activities. I appreciate her and her help!
- A big shout-out to Ms. DePriest from Communities in Schools and Angel from Vignettes Home Staging for the amazing redesign of the teacher wellness room. The Titan teachers really appreciate the thoughtfulness that went into making this space a place to decompress.
- Thank you to Mr. Moore, MLK's restorative justice counselor, for all he does to support our young people. He has a huge impact on the lives of our students and deserves many thanks. The work he does to resolve conflicts between kids makes our jobs as teachers worlds easier, thank you for the dedication you have to the Titan family, Mr. Moore!
- This is a huge shout-out to Ms. T, driver for Bus #56 on Claremont Avenue in Northside! She has become such a wonderful bright light for our community, ensuring our kids get to Linwood Holton Elementary safely and on time. We are beyond grateful for her!
- I am thrilled to shout-out the outstanding efforts of our very own Chrissy Valentine, who masterfully orchestrated a remarkable Thanksgiving event at Chimborazo Elementary. Her exceptional leadership and flair for community engagement truly shined during this signature event. Chrissy's tireless dedication ensured a well-coordinated effort involving various community and faith partners, who generously contributed to make the event a success. From thoughtful indoor and outdoor activities to a feast that delighted all. We're immensely proud of her accomplishment which not only brought our community closer but also embodied the spirit of Thanksgiving. Thank you, Chrissy, for your commitment and for creating a memorable experience that embodies the spirit of Chimborazo Elementary. Your leadership continues to inspire us!
- I would like to give a huge shout-out to Mrs. Dabney, Mrs. Couther, Mr. Gail, Mr. Murray, and the case managers at MLK Jr. Middle School. Thank you for letting me be a part of the change!
- Students from MLK Jr. MS recently visited the Virginia Museum of History and Culture and VMFA. The students were able to tour the museum and receive a classroom lesson highlighting the aspects of Jim Crow here in Richmond, Virginia. Our students were absolutely wonderful, and they even received many compliments from the museum tour guides and staff. Thank you to our chaperones: Ms. Grant, Mrs. Johnson, and Mrs. Carter. Go, MLK! Go, Titans!
- Ms. Harris at G.H. Reid spread sunshine yesterday by distributing a great message! Thank you, Ms. Harris, for spreading love and cheer across our school!
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| Reminders from Previous RPS Directs
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| Energy Assistance – Winter is quickly approaching and we want to make sure all families are prepared for the cold temperatures. Please remember that Dominion Energy has payment programs to assist families experiencing financial hardship. For a full list of Dominion Energy customer assistance options, visit their website or call 866-366-4357.
EnergyShare Bill Payment Assistance
- Anyone needing help to pay heating bills may qualify for assistance
- Not income-based
- Individuals 60 and older, military veterans, and people with disabilities may be eligible for additional assistance
- Offers up to $600 in bill payment assistance from October 1 through May 31
- For more information, visit Virginia 211
Extended Payment Plans
- Extended payment plans to assist customers who have fallen behind on their electric bills
- Eligible customers can make a 50% down payment on their past due bill and spread the remaining balance over 6 months (sign-in to your Dominion Energy account online to apply)
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| Teach With Love at RPS – We hire all year long so if you know of a great teacher who might like to join the RPS team, please tell them to apply now. We're offering bonuses of up to $12,000!
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| Student Wellness and Mental Health Support – Please note the resources below and remember that we love you here and you are not alone.
- Students who need emergency mental health support should call the Richmond Behavioral Health Authority at (804) 819-4100 or the ChildSavers Immediate Response line at (804) 305-2420 (or send a text to 741741).
- Latinos in Virginia Empowerment Center provides education, advocacy, and support to Spanish-speaking individuals affected by violence. The 24/7 hotline in Spanish is (888) 969-1825.
- The Trauma Healing Response Network is a coalition of grassroots, community-based organizations and mental health partners that provide support services to families and communities impacted by gun violence. The network can also facilitate the distribution of emergency relief funds to help those in crisis. For more information, email traumahealingresponsenetwork@gmail.com.
- RPS employees in need of emergency support should contact the Cigna 24/7 Crisis Line at (833) ME-CIGNA, or (833) 632-4462. Additional counseling and support services are also available through the Cigna Employee Assistance (EAP) program by calling (800) 544-6931.
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| RPS Links
Crisis Support Links
Health and Wellness Links
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